Display rack



Sept. 29, 1964 Filed Feb. 20, 1965 f-mii E. GURIAN 3,150,778

DISPLAY RACK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. EL M S GUA /A N w M Z M A TT08/1 4 Sept. 29, 1964 l E. GURIAN 3,150,778

DISPLAY RACK Filed Feb. 20, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [Z /A 5 GUP/A/V UnitedStates Patent 3,150,778 DISPLAY RACK Elias Gurian, Lawrence, N.Y. 1001Fabrics Inc., 39 W. 45th St., New York, N.Y.) Filed Feb. 20, 1963, Ser.No. 259,955 6 Claims. (Cl. 211-49) In general, this invention relates toa new and improved display rack and, more particularly, to a displayrack that is adapted to hold a large number of display materials in acompact manner at very low cost.

It is essential when displaying thin flexible materials, such astextiles, to provide a rack which will give support to the textilemate-rials without the loss of observability or unnecessary increases incost.

For this reason, the present invention contemplates a display rackcapable of supporting a large number of cards on which are wrappedfabric materials in a manner whereby the fabric material is supported inplace and the maximum number of cards can be displayed in a minimumspace. Additionally, the display rack of the present invention can beconstructed at minimum cost and will be extremely light and easy tohandle.

Therefore, it is the general object of this invention to provide a newand improved display rack which is both lightweight and inexpensive tomanufacture.

A further object of this invention is to provide a display rack whichmay be utilized for the showing of flexible materials which will bestructurally sound without any corresponding loss in viewability.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improveddisplay rack into which display materials can be easily inserted by theprovision of line contact on all surfaces.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in thedrawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood,however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangementsand instrumentalities shown.

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of the display rack of the presentinvention.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the display rack of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view of the display rack of FIGURE 2 takenalong lines 3-3 with all parts not located near the cross section linesbeing omitted for purposes of clarity.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of a portionof the display rack of FIGURES 1-3.

FIGURE 5 is a right side cross sectional view of the portion shown inFIGURE 4 taken along lines 5-5.

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of the portion shown in FIGURE 4 taken alonglines 66.

In the drawings, the display rack of the present invention has beengenerally designated by the numeral 10.

The rack 10 includes an upper outer annular ring 12 and a lower outerannular ring 14. The annular rings 12 and 14 are congruent equilateralpolygons which are spaced in parallel planes from each other by parallelvertical rods 16, 18, 22, 24, 28, etc. It will be understood that anyequilateral polygonal ring may be utilized as the exterior of thedisplay rack. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the rings 12 and14 are equilateral octagons.

Four vertical rods 18, 22, 24 and 28 are shown as supporting one side ofthe octagonal ring 12 from the corresponding side of the octagonal ring14. For purposes of clarity, only this one side of the octagonal ringswill be discussed in detail, it being understood that all other sidesare exactly similar thereto.

3,150,778 Patented Sept. 29, 1964 A second upper equilateral polygonalring 30 geometrically similar with the ring 12 is provided having thesame center as the ring 12. The annular ring 30 is connected to acongruent equilateral polygonal lower ring 15 by vertical rods 20 and 26extending the length of the display rack as shown, vertical rods 20 and26 are spaced intermediate rods 18 and 22, and rods 24 and 28respectively.

A top advertising support member 32 is provided mounted between a pairof opposite sides of the inner octagonal ring 30. The advertisingsupport 32 is adapted to have printed material supported thereon forinforming persons as to the contents of the display rack.

A central octagonal ring 31 exactly congruent to rings 30 and 15 is alsoprovided secured to the vertical rods 20, 26, etc. A pair of horizontalstruts 34 and 36 are secured to opposite sides of the central inneroctagonal ring 31. A similar pair of horizontal struts 38 and 40 areplaced perpendicular to struts 34 and 36 and secured at their oppositeends to parallel sides of the central ring 31. The struts 34, 36, 38 and40 are spaced so they form a square at the center through which passes avertical supporting post 42. The post 42 gives balance to the displayrack 10.

Additionally, there are provided struts 33, 35, 37 and 39 similar to thestruts 34, 36, 38 and 40 through which vertical post 42 passes. Thestruts 33, 35, 37 and 39 are secured to suitable sides of loweroctagonal ring 14. A suitable flange support 43 mounted on post 42supports the display rack 10. The struts 33, 35, 37 and 39 form a squareat the center thereof whose area is less than the area of the flange 43so that they can be supported thereby. The post 42 is mounted on asuitable stand 44.

There are also provided on the vertical rods 18, 22, 24 and 28 displaycard holders 46 adjacent the bottom annular ring 14. These display cardholders 46 are placed one to a side so that suitable advertisingmaterial can be included which describes the material being displayed inthe particular side immediately above the display card holder 46.

As stated previously, only one side of the display rack 10 will bediscussed for purposes of clarity, it being understood that the othersides are exactly similar thereto. The side to be described is shown inFIGURES 4, 5 and 6. As shown, there is mounted a U-shaped retainerbetween the planes of annular rings 12 and 30. Annular ring 12 has apair of vertical rods 18 and 22 extending down to the lower annular ring14. The inner annular ring 30 has a vertical rod 20 extending towardsrings 31 and 15 as described previously. A second set of vertical rods24 and 28 are secured to the one side of ring 12 and a second verticalrod 26 is also secured to the inner ring 30. It will be understood thatthe rods 22 and 24 could be combined into a single rod performing thefunctions of these two rods.

The U-shaped retainer 48 includes an angularly distending U-shapedportion 50 secured at the lowermost point 52 thereof to the innersupport rod 20. The two uppermost ends of the U-shaped retainer 48 areextensions 54 and 56 parallel to the ring 14 and secured, as by welding,to the spaced vertical support rods 18 and 22.

A similar U-shaped retainer 58 is provided immediately below theU-shaped retainer 48 and secured in the same manner to outer verticalrods 18 and 22 and inner vertical rod 20. The U-shaped retainer 58 alsoincludes an angularly distending U-shaped portion 60 whose lowermostpoint 62 is secured to vertical rod 20 and whose outermost extensions 64and 66 are secured to rods 18 and 22 respectively. Similar U-shapedretainers are spaced immediately below the retainers 48 and 58 in thesame manner as was discussed with respect to these latter retainers. Thespace between the retainers 48 and 58 forms a pocket within whichdisplay material may be placed. The U-shaped retainers provide top andbottom support for the display material while the rods 18, 20 .and 22prevent the material from sliding out of its predetermined slot. Itshould be noted that the material is placed within the slot with onlyline contact pro vided by the U-shaped retainers.

Additionally, the U-shaped retainers are not obstructed by the displaycard holders 46 as the first of these retainers is immediately abovethese holders further, display card holders 46 have a height less thanthe distance between the lowermost portion of the U-shaped retainers andthe uppermost portion thereof. Although two sets of U-shaped retainershave been shown for each side of the polygonal ring display rack, it caneasily be understood that more or less sets of such U-shaped retainersmay be utilized within the scope of this invention.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and,accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, ratherthan to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of theinvention.

I claim:

1. A display rack comprising top and bottom equilateral polygonal outerrings, top and bottom inner rings geometrically similar to said outerrings, a pair of spaced parallel outer rods fixedly secured between saidtop and bottom outer rings on one similar side of said top and bottomrings, an inner support rod spaced intermediate said pair of spacedparallel outer rods and fixedly secured between said top and bottominner rings, and at least two retainers, said retainers having theirlowermost portions secured to said inner post and their uppermostportions secured to said outer posts.

2. The display rack of claim 1 wherein said retainers include U-shapedmembers, the lowermost portion of said U-shaped member being connectedto said inner rod, the uppermost portions of said U-shaped member beingconnected to said spaced parallel outer posts, said two retainers beingin spaced parallel relation, the uppermost portion of said retainerbeing in a higher plane than the lowermost portion of said retainer.

3. The display rack of claim 2 including additional parallel retainersextending from said bottom inner and outer rings to said top inner andouter rings between said outer posts and said inner rod, and a displaycard holder, said display card holder being mounted on said outer rodimmediately below the retainer closest to said bottom outer ring, saiddisplay card holder having a height less than the distance between thelowermost portion of said U-shaped member and the uppermost portion ofsaid U-shaped member.

4. The display rack of claim 1 wherein all of said rings have an evennumber of sides, a first pair of cross struts extending between oppositeparallel sides of said bottom inner and outer rings, a second pair ofspaced cross struts extending between a second pair of opposite parallelsides of said inner and outer bottom rings, said first and second pairsof cross struts being angularly disposed with respect to each other, thecrossover area of said first and second pairs of cross struts definingan opening, a vertical support post adapted to pass through said crossover area opening, a support for said support post, and a fiange mountedon said support post immediately below said first and second pairs ofcross struts, said flange having a horizontal area greater than thecrossover area of said cross struts whereby said first and second pairsof cross struts are supported by said flange.

5. The display rack of claim 4 including a third inner equilateralpolygonal ring congruent with said top and bottom inner rings connectedto said inner support rod between said top and bottom inner rings, thirdand fourth pairs of spaced parallel cross struts similar to said firstand second support struts respectively connected between oppositeparallel sides of said third inner ring, said third and fourth pairs ofcross struts defining a second crossover area at the point immediatelyabove said first crossover area, said first and second crossover areasbeing equal, said vertical post extending through both of said crossoverareas to provide stability for said display rack.

6. A display rack comprising top and bottom equilateral polygonal outerrings, top and bottom inner rings geometrically similar to said outerrings, a pair of spaced parallel outer rods fixedly secured between saidtop and bottom outer rings on one similar side of said top and bottomrings, an inner support rod spaced intermediate said pair of spacedparallel outer posts and fixedly secured between said top and bottominner rings, and at least two U-shaped retainers, the closed endportions of said U-shaped retainers being connected to said inner post,the open end portions of said U-shaped retainers being connected to saidspaced parallel outer posts, said two U-shaped retainers being in spacedparallel relation.

References Cited in the file of this patent

1. A DISPLAY RACK COMPRISING TOP AND BOTTOM EQUILATERAL POLYGONAL OUTERRINGS, TOP AND BOTTOM INNER RINGS GEOMETRICALLY SIMILAR TO SAID OUTERRINGS, A PAIR OF SPACED PARALLEL OUTER RODS FIXEDLY SECURED BETWEEN SAIDTOP AND BOTTOM OUTER RINGS ON ONE SIMILAR SIDE OF SAID TOP AND BOTTOMRINGS, AN INNER SUPPORT ROD SPACED INTERMEDIATE SAID PAIR OF SPACEDPARALLEL OUTER RODS AND FIXEDLY SECURED BETWEEN SAID TOP AND BOTTOMINNER RINGS, AND AT